Study Desk

The Giv‘onim said to him, "Our dispute with Sha'ul can't be resolved with silver or gold; and we don't have the right to put anyone in Isra'el to death." He said, "So, what do you say that I should do for you?"

Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah took sackcloth, spread it out toward a cliff for herself and stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until water was poured out on the bodies from the sky, not letting the birds land on them during the day or the wild animals at night.

"For death's breakers were closing over me, the floods of B'liya‘al terrified me,

he rescued me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I.

Adonai rewarded me for my uprightness, he repaid me because my hands were clean.

"For I have kept the ways of Adonai , I have not done evil by leaving my God;

for all his rulings were before me, I did not depart from his regulations.

"Hence Adonai repaid me for my uprightness, according to my purity in his view.

"For you, Adonai , are my lamp; Adonai lights up my darkness.

"As for God, his way is perfect, the word of Adonai has been tested by fire; he shields all who take refuge in him.

For who is God but Adonai , and who is a Rock but our God?

He trains my hands for war until my arms can bend a bow of bronze;

"For you braced me with strength for the battle and bent down my adversaries beneath me.

He is a tower of salvation for his king; he displays grace to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever."

"For my house stands firm with God — he made an everlasting covenant with me. It is in order, fully assured, that he will bring to full growth all my salvation and every desire.

After him was El‘azar the son of Dodo the son of Achochi, one of the three warriors with David when they put their lives in jeopardy against the P'lishtim who were there assembled for battle, while the men of Isra'el had gone away.

Tzelek the ‘Amoni, Nachrai the Be'eroti, armor-bearer for Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah,

But after he had taken the census, David was conscience-stricken. David said to Adonai , "I have greatly sinned in what I have done. But now, Adonai , please! Put aside your servant's sin, for I have done a very foolish thing."

Gad came to David and told him; he said: "Do you want seven years of famine in your land? or do you want to flee before your enemies for three months while they pursue you? or do you want three days of plague in your land? Think about it, and tell me what to answer the one who sent me."

David said to Gad, "This is very hard for me. Let us fall into the hand of Adonai , because his mercies are great, rather than have me fall into the hand of man."